Weather warnings have been issued across the UK for strong winds and heavy rain this weekend. The Met Office predicts gusts up to 70mph near the Irish Sea, with 45-55mph winds affecting parts of the Midlands, northern England, and Northern Ireland.
On Friday evening, rain will spread across northern and western regions, with the heaviest showers expected in south-west Scotland.
The south will see clear spells and scattered showers, but rain will return to south-west England later. Wind speeds will rise in the west on Saturday morning, spreading to other areas through the afternoon before easing from the west in the evening.
The Met Office warns that up to 80mm of rain could lead to flooding of homes and businesses. Yellow weather warnings for rain are in place for Dorset, Devon, southern Scotland, and Northern Ireland, where the ground is already saturated.
Weather warnings were issued as gusts reached 70mph and rain totals hit 80mm.Heavy rain, ranging from 30-50mm, is expected across southern Scotland, with 60-80mm possible on higher ground starting Friday night.
Stephen Dixon from the Met Office noted that the weekend will be wet and windy, with a band of heavy wind and rain moving through Scotland from 6 pm Friday.
Flooding is possible due to the saturated ground. Another band will move from the south-west to the north-east on Saturday, bringing heavy rain to much of the UK. By the afternoon, the weather should ease to showers in the south.
Travel disruptions are likely, affecting road, rail, air, and ferry services, with coastal routes and sea fronts possibly impacted by spray and large waves. Unsettled weather is expected to continue into Sunday and next week, with potential for further warnings.
Looking ahead, the Met Office’s temperature forecast indicates that 2023 will be a record-breaking year for global temperatures, with 2024 potentially exceeding the 1.5°C rise above pre-industrial levels, a target set by scientists and governments. The average global temperature for 2024 is forecast to be between 1.34°C and 1.58°C above pre-industrial levels.